Press Releases

Los Angeles (July 25, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today opposed by a vote of 51.74 percent to 48.26 percent the closure of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Long Term Care Facility.

The Board received presentations from representatives of the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) and the Resident-family coalition Saving the Lives of Our Own.

Candidates elected from the Nevada Branch include:Charles Di Pinto - Council Member at Large - two-year termScott Mirne - Council Member at Large - two-year termArttours Weeden - Council Member at Large - two-year term

CHICAGO (August 5, 2009)—The National Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) held its two-day plenary meeting prior to the 62nd AFTRA National Convention which starts on Thursday.

Los Angeles, CA (July 23, 2009)---The I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities) national disability rights campaign – a civil rights initiative jointly created by members of Actors Equity Association, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild – announced today that it was honored to present the keynote address at the National Summit on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on July 22-

As we all know, the current path of American health care is unsustainable. Health care costs are out of control for even those with insurance, and most workers without coverage can’t afford the skyrocketing rates for even the barest minimal coverage.

Los Angeles (July 1, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild joins the world in mourning renowned actor Karl Malden, who died today. He was 97.

“Karl was an actor’s actor, the embodiment of professionalism, which included National Board service to this union,” said SAG National President Alan Rosenberg. “We will remember the many indelible characters he created, and his screen legacy will continue to move us, educate us and enrich our lives.”

Los Angeles, CA (June 25, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild released the following statement on the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson: Already saddened by the recent passing of the wise and witty Ed McMahon, Screen Actors Guild members are today mourning the deaths of television legend Farrah Fawcett and entertainment icon Michael Jackson.

LOS ANGELES (June 23, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild today announced that longtime SAG members George Coe and Sumi Haru have been selected to receive the Hollywood Division’s prestigious Ralph Morgan Award. Coe has served on the Guild’s National Board of Directors for eight of the last nine years, as well as from 1967 to 1973. He is a member of SAG’s National Executive Committee and National Agents Relations Committee. Haru has been a SAG National Board Member since 1975, serving as national vice president, national recording secretary and, in 1995, as acting president.

Los Angeles, (June 9, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild announced today that members have voted overwhelmingly to approve its TV/Theatrical contracts by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent.

The two-year successor agreement covers film and digital television programs, motion pictures and new media productions. The pact becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. June 10, 2009 and expires June 30, 2011.

The contracts provide more than $105 million in wages, increased pension contributions, and other gains and establishes a template for SAG coverage of new media formats.

Atlanta, GA (June 2, 2009) – The leadership of the Screen Actors Guild Regional Branch Division (RBD) will meet for their annual board meeting June 6-7 in Atlanta, Georgia. The RBD includes 20 Branches spanning from Boston to Hawaii. Nearly 24,000 Screen Actors Guild members who work in film and television live in the regional branches.

Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks Sign Statement of Support for a YES Vote on the Tentative TV/Theatrical Agreements

Los Angeles, (May 29, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced the names of 500 members who are among the first to sign SAG’s new “Statement of Support” in securing ratification of the tentative TV/Theatrical agreements. The signers include Academy Award™ winners George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks.

Los Angeles (May 21, 2009) —In nationwide voting completed today, members of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have overwhelmingly approved new three-year successor agreements to the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Television Commercials Contract and the2006 AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts .

Washington, (May, 14, 2009) - The stars of stage and screen – actors, musicians, Broadway performers, comedians, writers and crew – are coming out in support of the Employee Free Choice Act through a new online video called “Artists4WorkersChoice.” Many have Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards and nominations, and they have one thing in common – they’re all union members, and they all share the experience of working every day for a living, struggling to find jobs and pay the bills.